Seoul - Districts and Cuisine Travel Report
 

Who says Korean dishes are all the same? For those who didn’t pay attention – Korean cuisine has a nice and exciting diversity. Korean food scene is not simply Kimchi, spicy rice cakes, and Bibimbap - it has more than that. Exploring the alleys and different district, you would be pleasantly surprised by the yummylicious experience in Seoul! Check out knycx_journeying blog for photos and a detailed trip report: http://wp.me/p5Lw9a-Ts

*Dongdaemun*
Not everyone knows Chi-Mc, or “Chimaek” – until the hit TV show ‘My Love from the Star’ slayed millions of super fans in the entire East Asia a couple of years ago. Dongdaemun is a paradise for the young and hip. Not only the trendy fashion malls offer an overwhelming diversity of clothing from the high-end to the low-end, but also the shopping malls open 24/7 to ensure visitors have more time to shop and less time to sleep. ... There was a hotpot restaurant that was quite funky. Each diner has their own pot and a plate of meat... Try the Korean-style shaved ice! In Korean, it’s called ‘Bingsu’ (‘Bingsoo’ or ‘Patbingsu’ in some occasions). Typically bingsu is a fine and soft shredded ice with extravagant toppings like condensed milk, seasonal fruits, azuki beans, pat, tteok, sometimes a scoop of ice cream…

*Insa-dong*
Insa-dong is definitely the neighborhood for tourists looking for a souvenir. The entire street is filled with traditional Korean gifts from handicrafts, tea leaves, handkerchiefs, books, accessories… to designer products. It’s almost impossible to not find something nice for a friend or a loved one at home. In the quest of a perfect souvenir(s), I found Insa-dong has also quite a few nice restaurants with Korean-style tea and juk (porridge)...

*Sinsa-dong*
On the other side of the Han River, Sinsa-dong is hip 700m walking street for the trendsetters and fashionistas. Fashion labels, outlets, cafes, bakeries and flagship stores could be found on both sides of the street. ELBON was an interesting 3-story concept store on the north end of the street featuring western dishes with a twist. The day that I was there I had a pretty nice three-course lunch (the highlight is the chocolate dessert!). A place for the adventurous mind!
Deux Cremes – A popular bakery in Sinsa-dong, fruit tarts in many different flavors like banana, strawberry, blueberry, cranberry, grapes….

*Anguk-dong*
Close to the Bukchon Hanok Village (or the North Village, a Korean traditional village), Anguk-dong is a relatively quiet neighborhood without tall buildings, but carefully preserved traditional houses, and mindfully decorated shops and cafes. Walking uphill visitors could enjoy a nice view of the city’s skyline, and find home stays in traditional Korean houses.

Ganjang Gejang (Raw Crabs Marinated in Soy Sauce) is one of the best places eating Ganjang Gejang, is in Anguk. It was an old-fashioned dining place where diners had to kneel by the table eating. But who cares?! The crab is simply amazing! Tomalley (crab fat) and roe are commonly nicknamed a ‘rice thief’ as it arouses one’s appetite and one would consume a bowl of rice with the crab without noticing.

*Majang-dong*
Love Korean Barbecue. Gogigui is grilling a table of marinated beef, pork, chicken, or other meats over charcoal (or nowadays, gas). There are many places doing that and it depends on your style: whether doing it freely with a big pile of meat at a very low price or grilling meat in a perfectly clean environment with class and style.

Check out knycx_journeying blog for photos and a detailed trip report: http://wp.me/p5Lw9a-Ts